Maho Beach

Maho Beach, on the island’s Dutch side, has the typical Caribbean powder-white sand and blue waters, but it also offers a unique addition to the scenery: airplanes. The strand is positioned adjacent to the international airport, and visitors clamor to see the jets up close. It’s all about the planes here—one beach bar used to transmit pilot and controller conversations over a loudspeaker; today, other bars post flight times. Warning: The powerful jets can propel people in the water.